Today I received a very good e-mail from a dear pastor friend of mine. I must admit, I must have been in a lull or something regarding our paedobaptist friends and those of them that adhere to the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). I guess I assumed that many of our paedobaptist friends did not believe certain parts of the WCF that would amount in presumtive regeneration/grace. For example here it says: VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinancy the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time." So I need to find out how many of my presbyterian brothers and sisters believe that baptizing infants does more than put them in the covenant family until they show that they are not of the elect and saved, but believe that such baptism is conferred by the Holy Ghost so as that they will be saved and evidence that they are of the elect (whew). Not just that, I need to find out how many of them believe this statement: "great sin to condemn or neglect this" regarding paedo(infant)baptism. May the Lord forgive me for assuming, and neglecting this important issue, and give me wisdom as I seek to find what out paedobaptist friends believe regarding this.
That's the way the world looks at it. Many religions and many paths to God, most people think. But is that true? I mean, look at what we got: Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Roman Catholics, Protestants, Baptists, and more. Which one is right? Now bear with me before jumping the gun about me lumping in Protestants and Baptists with that group. How do we respond and deal with so many religions? Is there really that many? I say no! Because when it really comes down to it, there are only 2 kinds of religions...Works and Grace, Self and Christ. The works/self way leads to condemnation, the Christ/Grace way leads to eternal life in heaven. There may be many founders behind all those religions, but the one thing they all have in common is the false belief that works completely or partly saves them. It doesn't matter what name is behind it (including Christian), if they believe that sacraments, ordinances, charitable deeds, or good works helps get t...
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But we do treat them as part of the visible Church and the Covenant.
But if we fail to train our children properly and press upon them their need for Christ we have failed the Biblical standards for parents.